order to reach his mother's house, he had to pass through St. Ia,
and he had barely entered the little town when he saw Count von Weimer,
who had expressed his congratulations so fervently on the golf links.

"Ah, this is lucky!" cried the Count. "I was wondering if I should haf
the good fortune to meet you again. May I walk with you? That is
goot!"

"You are a stranger to St. Ia," said Bob.

"Yes. I have been drawn here by the beauty of the place, and--and
because I want peace." He still spoke in broken English, although I
will no longer try to reproduce it.

"You love peace?" Bob ventured.

"Love it! Ah, young sir, you little know. I am one of those
unfortunate men who are placed in an awful position. I am, although I
bear a German name, French on my mother's side. I love France too, and
am at heart a Frenchman. But then my house is in Alsace--Alsace, you
understand. France under German Government. I can say here, what I
could not say there. I hate Germany, I hate her government, her
militarism, her arrogance. The Germans suspect my loyalty, and so I
have come to England."

"And you like England?"

"Ah, who can help loving it? Your British flag means liberty, wherever
it flies. It stands for peace, brotherhood, progress. That is why I
think of buying a house near St. Ia, and settling down. Realising my
position in Alsace, you can understand. Besides, what can be more
beautiful than this?" and he waved his hand toward the sunlit bay.

"Yes, it's the most beautiful spot on earth!" cried Bob.

"It is indeed, and I love its peace. I love the quiet ways of the
people. I saw a house yesterday which captivated, charmed me.
Tre-Trelyon, yes, that's it; Trelyon, I was told it was called, and I
hear it is for sale, or to let, I don't know which."

"Yes, it is, and it is one of the finest places in the district. Why,
it belongs to Admiral Tresize, whom perhaps you saw on the links this
afternoon."

"What, that stout, hearty, John Bull gentleman? Oh, yes, I saw him!
What a splendid specimen of your British thoroughness. It belongs to
him, eh?"

"Yes, it formerly belonged to his wife's family, the Trelyons. I'm
sure he'd be glad of a good tenant."

"Ah, but that is pleasant. I could perhaps deal with him personally?
I am, I suppose, what you would call a rich man, but I hate dealing
with agents, and lawyers, and that kind of thing. He is--friendly,
this, what do you call him, Admiral----